The Norwegian Gem Cruise Ship from Dover Castle, Kent, UK

John Latter, on October 6, 2007, said:

The Norwegian Gem cruise ship berthed at the Admiralty Pier, Dover Harbour, on October 5th, 2007 (the pier in front of the liner is the Prince of Wales Pier.

Dover Harbour Board announced on the 1st of October:

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Gem is in Dover for its inaugural celebrations and the port is pulling out all the stops to ensure the event goes off with a swing - and a bang!

...“Fireworks Fantasia – A Gem of a Night” takes place on Dover promenade from 6.30 p.m. with performances of music and drama by local youth groups culminating in the fireworks display to music at approximately 8 p.m. De Bradelei Wharf is open for late night shopping.

Travel Mole's "Norwegian Gem handed over to NCL" had previously announced on October 4th:

Norwegian Cruise Line has taken delivery of its latest ship Norwegian Gem in advance of a UK travel industry showcase today (Friday).

The ship was handed over from the Meyer Werft shipyard at a ceremony in Eemshaven, Holland (also see Meyer Werft).

...Norwegian Gem, the fourth and final ship in the company's Jewel-class series, will sail to Dover to host the annual dinner of the Passenger Shipping Association as well as travel agents and media.

After the inaugural celebrations, Norwegian Gem will run a series of seven-day Western Mediterranean itineraries before making its US debut in Boston on December 12 followed by a christening in New York City December 18.

The above zoomed-photo was taken from the drawbridge of Peverell's Gate (alt. Tower, Gateway) [1], part of the battlements of Dover Castle.

On the left of the battlements Gatton's Tower overlaps Say's Tower. The un-crenellated outer wall then continues to Hurst's Tower and on to Fulbert's Tower. Just below and to the right of Fulbert's Tower a short expanse of Canon's Gate bridge can be seen on higher resolutions, along with the floodlights in the bottom of the ditch/dry moat which illuminate Dover Castle at night.

[1] Peverell's Gate was built in the early 13th Century and according to a plaque within the archway was "possibly named after William Peverell, Constable 1066".

From "The History of the Castle, Town and Port of Dover" by Reverend S. P. H. Statham, Rector of St Mary-in-the-Castle (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899):

Peverell's Tower (7), also called The Marshal's, Beauchamp's, and the Bell Tower. The manors of Wrensted and Throwley in Kent were responsible for the up-keep of this fine tower, which with its arched gateway, ditch [moat] and drawbridge constituted the entrance into the middle ward. At one time it was used as a prison and the residence of the marshal, and hence its name. On the side of the tower fronting the keep there was an arched passage from the main gate, which communicated with the caponiere [alt. caponier, caponner] leading under Harcourt's Tower. The arms of Hugh Beauchamp, marshal of the Castle, were cut on a stone shield placed on the front of the tower, and were visible in 1801, when the stone was removed. The original battlements have been replaced by a parapet of brick. In 1771 the wall between this tower and Port [ie Port Tower, alt. Laswells, Gostling or Queen Mary's Tower] fell down, and in digging for a new foundation the piers of the old bridge before the gate were discovered.

Mick Flynn, on October 7, 2007, said:

Welcome back John.

Poisonlee, on October 7, 2007, said:

Hey there John

Good to see you!

I love this Pic, its another perfect contrast between old and new.

Pino x

John Latter, on October 7, 2007, said:

Mick Flynn said:

Welcome back John.

Thank you, Mick - 's good to be back! :)

Poisonlee said:

Hey there John

Good to see you!

I love this Pic, its another perfect contrast between old and new.

Pino x

Hi Pino!

A couple of weeks ago I checked to see if you had uploaded any more photos but there's still only the one. Thought you had thousands on your computer? :)

John Latter, on October 17, 2007, said:

Notes on the first 'Comment':

Constable's Tower is also known as Constable's Gate, Constable's Gateway, Constable's Tower and Gate; similarly Peverell's Gate is also sometimes called Peverell's Tower, Peverell's Gateway, Peverell's Tower and Gate.

Click to see Queen Mary's Tower and photos of St Mary-in-Castro.